Health Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple Cider Vinegar is so commonly touted as a safe, natural, and completely effective panacea but how much of this is true and based in solid scientific evidence? If you're a bit sceptical that a liquid made from fermented apples can cure diabetes, banish acne, soothe a sore throat, whiten teeth, banish dandruff, and basically make your life perfect in every way, this may be the post you want to read. With all the fuss about apple cider vinegar, it's important to look into what science actually says. If however, you're a die hard devotee, you may want to look away.

What the Science Supports
Considering how much recognition apple cider vinegar gets as a cure-all, you might think there's tons of research to support those claims. Well, right now, that’s not the case. The scientific literature on humans ingesting vinegar is very, very limited. However, a number of studies into its medicinal uses reveal that there are a few things that scientists have found which could be regarded as health benefits.

It promotes stable blood sugar.
You know that light-headed, low-energy feeling you sometimes get after chowing down on too many refined carbs? That’s your blood sugar spiking—and then crashing down. The acetic acid found in apple cider vinegar (and most other types of vinegars, like white vinegar and red wine vinegar) contains anti-glycemic properties, and studies show that consuming apple cider vinegar before a meal can help keep those kinds of spikes at bay. This could, in theory, have something to do with why people who take apple cider vinegar claim that the stuff boosts their mood and energy. The blood sugar benefits might even spell good news for people with diabetes, though researchers still have more to figure out. If they follow a protocol of drinking some vinegar before every meal for a year or more, does that reduce reliance on insulin medications?  Or reduce the progression of their disease? Those questions have yet to be answered. In a review of available studies conducted in 2014, researchers found that while there is some evidence that vinegars can help with hyperglycaemia and obesity, there is no evidence that it positively affects metabolism.  You can read the abstract of this review here: Effect and mechanisms of action of vinegar on glucose metabolism, lipid profile, and body weight. Recent studies support the observation that apple cider vinegar is beneficial for managing post-meal blood sugar levels. This can be very helpful for people with diabetes. Keeping it balanced is essential for maintaining good health. You can read the study here:
Vinegar supplementation lowers glucose and insulin responses and increases satiety after a bread meal in healthy subjects.

It can fight bacteria.
Apple cider vinegar has been used to combat infections like ulcers and sores since the time of the ancient Greeks. In fact, there are plenty of studies documenting vinegar’s antimicrobial effects. But just because apple cider vinegar is capable of fighting bacterial infections does not mean that using it to do so is actually a good idea. Because it’s so acidic, pouring it into your ears for an ear infection or using it on open sores or cuts is almost guaranteed to irritate your skin. It’s not safe to use by itself for a sore throat, either, because it could do more harm than good. One should not gargle vinegar either. There have been cases where people have ended up in the hospital because they accidentally choked on it.


It can soothe jellyfish stings.
Weirdly, research shows that if you happen to get stung by a jellyfish, dousing the affected area in apple cider vinegar may help. It can deactivate nematocysts, the sharp barbs that jellyfish use to inject their painful venom. But experts say that warm water can have a similar effect—without irritating your skin the way apple cider vinegar may.

What’s Not So Clear
As for the rest of the miraculous stuff you often hear, most of it is yet to be determined. For now though, the majority of these following claims haven’t been studied.

It improves your skin.
Anecdotally, there are plenty of people who say that applying apple cider vinegar to their faces helps get rid of acne and improve their skin’s texture. People with chronic acne who steam their face with diluted apple cider vinegar, have indeed noticed that within two to three weeks, there’s a difference. And since apple cider vinegar contains antimicrobial properties, it could help acne-prone skin but for now, there aren’t any studies or simply the evidence out there to prove it.

It gets rid of warts.
A handful of studies have shown that putting acetic acid on your skin can destroy wart tissue. But this research used super high concentrations of the stuff (up to 99%). Since apple cider vinegar and other vinegars are only around 5% acetic acid, they wouldn't be nearly strong enough to kill a wart.

It clears up dandruff.
Though an apple cider vinegar rinse might make your hair look shinier, there’s no credible scientific research to support the idea that it can clear up dandruff.

It whitens teeth.
Apple cider vinegar's antibacterial properties could conceivably help get some plaque and germs off of your teeth. However, there isn't evidence to show that apple cider vinegar can whiten teeth. In fact, it’ll probably leave your pearly whites in pretty bad shape. Health practitioners do not advocate whitening your teeth with apple cider vinegar at all. We do not have a lot of acid protection in the mouth, and you don’t want to lose the enamel on your teeth. People who intend to use apple cider vinegar should ensure that it is heavily diluted. 10 parts water to one part vinegar as a safe mixture.  In more concentrated doses, apple cider vinegar can erode tooth enamel or burn your mouth and throat. A 2012 study found that drinking one glass of apple cider vinegar each day caused significant tooth erosion. You can read the article here: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23373303. It is highly recommended that you rinse your mouth with water afterwards. 

The Safe Way to Use Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar's acetic acid contains some beneficial properties, but in high concentrations, acedic acid can be a poison. So if you’re going to drink the stuff or use it on your skin, you’ve got to be careful. Many healthcare practitioners agree that the best way to use apple cider vinegar is in tiny doses. If you’re drinking the stuff, swig a tablespoon diluted in at least eight ounces of water no more than twice a day. And always follow this up with food which can help clear the acid out of your throat faster and prevent irritation. The same principle applies if you want to try using it on your skin. Dilute a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in a bowlful of hot water and dunk a face towel or rag in the mixture. “You can steam your face with the rag for 12 minutes.

Conclusions
Most of the research on apple cider vinegar has looked at its effects on blood sugar, and those studies seem to pan out. Experts accept that apple cider vinegar has antibacterial properties too—but because vinegar is harsh, it's not the best choice for treating sore throats or wounds (except those jellyfish stings). As for the other stuff, there's no scientific data to support using apple cider vinegar for better skin, less dandruff, or whiter teeth. Furthermore, it might be harmful. If you decide to try using it anyway, proceed with caution. This is an instance where more isn't better!

Reference
Taylor, M (Sept 2015) What apple cider vinegar truly can (and can't) do for your health. http://greatist.com/grow/apple-cider-vinegar-benefits
Bowman, J. (Sept 2014) http://www.healthline.com/health/apple-cider-vinegar-diet#3

How to Fight Diabetes Naturally

Well, I am not a Diabetic, but members of family is not spared by this condition.  It's  not even in family history but family history is not relevant these days, no one is really safe because our environment and lifestyle makes us ill.

I just read in the papers that Diabetes is a complication / side effects of taking too much or long maintenance from anti-hypertensive and lipids (statins) drugs.

I agree because I also observed to friends and family members who's taking too much medications and prolonged use of these maintenance drugs developed diabetes and that was sad and alarming. Also the lifestyle and eating habits of mostly processed carbohydrates like white sugar, flour and pasta. Sugar is everywhere in soda drinks, breads, pastries, cakes, candies, bottled juice drinks, fruit snacks, and so on. Too much of these can stressed our pancreas to produce more insulin.

I created a design to combat diabetes naturally as possible to help friends and family members with limited financial resources. Here are my options: 

1. If you are a Type "O" individual you must  go on a strict low carbohydrate diet, it was noted that type "O" person has a poor metabolism of carbohydrates and tend to store more glycogen in the body and are prone to diabetes and getting obese.

2. One misconception about hyperglycemia according to my friend Dr. Sonny Viloria is that sweet fruits will  increases your blood glucose. But he said no,  as long as you take the fruits in its freshest form (not bottled, processed or canned), because mostly of fruit sugar is fructose which is different from glucose which causes diabetes, so go and eat fresh fruits in moderation of course.

3. Moderation in everything is the key, low fat, low salt, high fiber diet helps a lot, avoid diet rich in processed carbohydrates but instead choose whole grains as substitute like brown rice, red rice or unpolished rice, these kind of rice is slowly metabolized compared to the white rice so there is gradual release of glucose when it breaks down, no shoot up,  banana and camote (and other root crops) are good source of carbohydrates for diabetic. Obesity is a contributing factors for diabetes especially the type 2 non insulin dependent.

4. Have an OGTT (Oral Glucose Tolerance Test) it is the best test to diagnose diabetes, it is a combination of Fasting (FBS), and Post-Prandial Blood Sugar test (PPBS) and Oral Glucose Challenge Test (OGCT). It can monitor if you have poor sugar metabolism even though you have a normal FBS. 

HgBA1c (Glycosylated Hemoglobin) test is to monitor the average sugar level for the past 3 months, our blood cells undergo a glycosylation process in times we have a high sugar levels, so even if you have a normal FBS today and you have a high HgBA1C it means your sugar levels are poorly controlled or you could be cheating on your diet.

Panutsa or Raw Sugar better than white sugar

5. Low glycemic index sugar substitute I would like to recommend: 

Agave sweetener, it is a natural sweetener from Agave plant from Mexico. Coco nectar is a natural sugar from coconut flowers, Stevia is also a herbal sweetener, it is easily to grow and when dried and powdered has the same sweetness of commercial white sugar.

Honey  as long as it is wild, raw, pure and unfiltered, preferably highland honey, because some commercially available honey in the supermarket I am anxious if they are really pure, I heard some added sugar or those cultured honey bees are fed with sugars, so be careful in choosing and buying honey.

Muscovado sugar is less adulterated and processed so I preferably use this one than white sugar and less expensive from the previously mentioned sweetener, or if you can train your taste bud without sweets much better. Please please avoid artificial sweeteners like aspartame, nutrasweet  splenda.  in the US, studies showed it is said to be the culprit of Parkinson's, Multiple Sclerosis and Alzheimer's diseases.

The local raw sugar (Muscovado) or "panutsa" in Tagalog, though it is very sweet, is natural, pure and it is safer than white sugar, because processed white sugar is bleached, chemically treated and all the nutrients are washed out with nothing left, only the sweet taste of C12H22O11,  but if you can't avoid white sugar,  use in moderation.

6.  Herbal supplements (available in fresh, dried and capsule) and Healing Modality that is  good in lowering sugars are :

Narra bark, taken the inner bark of Narra tree and boil makes a good tea and health drink, it not only lower glucose but also cholesterol and boost immune system. our country is exporting it to Africa and use it for their AIDS patients. Commercially available in Mercury drugstores as ECARMA  tea and capsules. I tried it and really good, also makes me lose weight .  

Taheebo (La Pachol) can lower blood sugar levels and have lots of other health benefits. 

Banaba tea is also really good, as a matter of fact my old relatives used to boil this as their health maintenance when I was a kid. 

Ampalaya tea is also proven by the Department of health to lower blood sugar so you may dried the leaves and boil and drink it, ampalaya leaves are also great garnishing for cooking like in corn soup, sardines and monggo dishes.  

Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) when taken internally (2 tbps in a glass of water) 3X a day it is a powerful alternative to bring that sugar level to normal, I had proven this with my own family members, example are my diabetic brother religiously drink it and lowers the sugar levels dramatically.

IV Laser Therapy for Diabetes (a non-pharmacologic approach): 

Visit: www.integratedlasermedicine.com and www.ilacm.com for more info.

 Neem Tree Leaves is also very good for lowering blood sugar:

Cinnamon cures Diabetes: Recent studies on cinnamon suggest that it can help maintain blood sugar levels at a consistent area. According to Dr. Youngsoo Kim who showed the research from the University of Calgary .

7. Exercise and morning sun to burn those calories, excess sugars and store glycogen and also to stimulate our pancreas, no need for strenuous exercise a simple brisk walking will do.

8. Our circulatory and nervous system are affected by diabetes it makes our nerves, veins and  arteries hardened, so my Doctor friend suggest a lukewarm foot soak as often as possible. I also recommend this to my family since some of them are complaining of numbness and loss of sensitivity in their limbs and feet. Soak feet in lukewarm water for 30 mins to 1 hour, you may add epsom salt or sea salt for a more detoxifying action. It "awakens" our nerves and veins according to my friend and improved blood circulation. Long term diabetes could damage our kidneys and the eyes (diabetic retinopathy) so make sure it was under control and our circulation good always.

9. Regular detoxification and cleansing also help, consult a health practitioner in choosing the right detox programs for you., regularly check and monitor improvements and blood sugar levels it helps you to make an evaluation and trend on how your diabetes is improving or worsening.

10. Avoid too much dependence on anti-cholesterol, anti-hypertensive and steroids medications, long term use of these drugs causes diabetes, try to reduce cholesterol and HBP the natural way.

Recommended diet for Diabetic:

1. Macrobiotic diet 
2. South Beach diet.
3. Blood Type diet

 

Recommended Clinic and Doctors Treating and Managing Diabetes:

Dr. Angelita C. Sta Teresa (Integrative Medicine)

Dr. Danilo P. Delfin (Internist-Cardiologist) 

Integrated Laser and Complementary Medicine  Center (477-0644/631-7821)

www.integratedlasermedicine.com / www.ilacm.com